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The "viruses" out there are malicious Windows applications written to cause harm to computers running Windows software. If you are not running Windows on your Mac, you do not need protection from Windows viruses.

Antivirus software for Macs is basically a scam. What they don't clearly tell you is that the OS X antivirus software does not search for "Mac viruses". (That's because there aren't any.) The only thing it does is search for Windows viruses, which is funny because the OS X software on your Mac is 100% immune to the Windows viruses being searched for.

Worrying about getting a virus on your Mac, it like laying awake in bed at night and worrying about whether or not you might contract smallpox.

It is hypothetically possible that, at some point in the future, someone may develop a true "Mac virus". However, if/when that happens, without an update, your existing antivirus software out there isn't going to detect it anyway, because it's only programmed to look for all the known Windows viruses. If a true "Mac virus" is actually developed, it will be front page news on the CNN & MSNBC websites. Everyone will know about it, and a couple weeks AFTER it happens, you'll be able to install some antivirus software which actually contains an update that protects you from it.

Microsoft owns the world computer market with their Windows OS, so why would a hacker worry about trying to hack into a very, very small percentage of computers when they can focus on 90%+/- of the market made up of Windows?

This seems to validate bobtomay's assertion that there is no discernible threat to Macs and my ignorant, or naive, approach was wrong.

Ian

I run Windows XP virtually for a datalogging program. If I surf from XP "unprotected", the virus and malware and trojan alerts go up faster than the National Debt. Back to Safari in OSX…and all is safe, quiet, and nonchalant.

There are no Mac OS X viruses period. When you download antivirus definitions you are downloading definitions for Windows viruses only as AV manufacturers have absolutely no Mac definitions. Windows viruses cannot function in the Unix world.

Any wonder it does not work?

Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!

Microsoft owns the world computer market with their Windows OS, so why would a hacker worry about trying to hack into a very, very small percentage of computers when they can focus on 90%+/- of the market made up of Windows?

First of all, "Windows" doesn't own 90+% of the market anymore and hasn't for a long time now.

Second, this has absolutely f-all NOTHING to do with how secure Macs are.

Third, Mac use has QUINTUPLED in the last five years -- still no viruses. Care to explain how your theory fits that fact?

Fourth, the myth of "security through obscurity" has been debunked more times than the "Iraq has WMD" line.

Fifth, "hackers" would love NOTHING BETTER than to be the first to write a genuine Mac virus. There is NO LACK of trying to do exactly that, trust me.

Sixth, can you even IMAGINE the spotlight Apple would (unfairly) get if even ONE genuine Mac virus were found to exist? The press and the PC fanboys would be all "there see you're JUST AS BAD" even though it would still be several hundred million to one. But more than TEN YEARS LATER still hasn't happened.

Seventh, furthermore it's not going to. Viruses as they are defined today are all but *impossible* on Macs, which is exactly WHY we haven't had any. Mac OS X is based on UNIX, which is itself very secure (since it was originally developed to be used for secure purposes). Windows is (still!) based on DOS, which wasn't.

No computer is 100% perfectly secure unless it's unplugged and off any sort of network, and Macs are not completely immune to "trickware" type malware -- BUT we're talking about a genuine VIRUS, not just "annoy-ware," and the chances of a Mac virus are so low that I'll *gladly* take any comers on a bet to that effect ... I love making easy money ...